Wireless charging has changed the way we juice up our gadgets by eliminating the need for physical cables adding more convenience at both home as well as in vehicles So if you ever thought about using a wireless charger for your iPhone Android phone or anything else this is everything you need to know about it.

How Does Wireless Charging Works?

How wireless charger works

Wireless charging dating back to the early 20th century has become popular in consumer technology in the past ten years, such as smartphones and watches. This technology allows compatible devices to be recharged just by resting on a charging stand or pad

The basic building block of this technology are copper coils The charging stand is equipped with a transmitting coil while the device to be charged has a receiving coil This transmitting coil is what produces an electromagnetic field when it draws power from the outlet which then induces an electric current in the receiving coil of your device and eventually into its builtin battery.

The position of the charging coil is different for each device While the coil is typically in the middle of the back of most smartphones watches usually put it behind the watch face As for earbuds the coil is often located at the bottom or back of the charging case

What are the differences between inductive and resonant charging

In terms of wireless charging there are two main types inductive and resonant Inductive charging requires the device being charged to be in contact with the charger This is the technology more often seen in wireless chargers where you place a smartphone directly on the charging stand or pad.

In the case of resonant charging power can be transferred without direct contact but the charger and device still need to be near each other The range is limited to a few centimeters so while direct contact is not necessary you cannot have your smartphone charge from across the room.

Wireless Charging Standards

The devices you use daily may have support for wireless charging from earbuds to smartphones Depending on what type and brand of devices are being charged the exact wireless charging standards can vary Heres a general overview of some of the most common wireless charging standards:
  • 1. Qi Wireless Charging Developed by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) and a widely adopted standard Qi pronounced chee wireless charging has become one of the leading industry standards It is supported by wellknown brands such as Belkin Apple and Samsung and is the most frequently used to charge devices and accessories today.

Qi2 the next generation of Qi wireless charging was introduced in early 2023 Qi2 integrates magnets into the charging system improving alignment and efficiency These two technologies function via induction so the device must be kept in contact with the charging pad or mat.

Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) developed Qi wireless charging which can support various wattages ranging from 5W to 15W in most consumer devices Advanced chargers can even support up to 30W or 66W in certain devices like the Honor Magic 6 Pro The need for charging profiles is essential due to consumer demand for faster charging speeds
 
Apple introduced a variant of Qi charging called MagSafe which was initially for MacBook laptops and then later made its way to the iPhone starting from the iPhone 12 MagSafe includes magnets surrounding the copper charging coil to assist in alignment upon placing the iPhone on a charger pad or stand which further improves both speed and efficiency.

2. PMA Powermat Wireless Charging

Powermat by Power Matters Alliance is another form of wireless charging that uses inductive charging technology similar to Qi However the communication protocols are entirely different This means that Qi and Powermat devices are not interoperable which is one reason you dont see the Powermat brand as much as you see Qi Regardless Powermat is a prominent option utilized in businesses like Starbucks and McDonalds as well as public charging stations
 

3. AirFuel Wireless Charging

AirFuel Alliance the result of a 2015 merger between PMA and A4WP brought AirFuel wireless charging to the table This standard combines radio frequency and electromagnetic resonant charging technologies to provide highly efficient wireless charging solutions with spatial freedom.


Factors to check when Buying Wireless Chargers
If you’re considering purchasing a wireless charger, here are a few factors to take into account:
  • Charging Speed: Different chargers have different wattages; a higher wattage can charge your device faster, so be sure to use the highest-wattage charger your device is compatible with.
  • Compatibility: Not all devices are compatible with the same wireless charging standard. Check which standard your device supports before purchasing a charger.
  • Design: While technical specifications matter, aesthetics are just as important. Consider the device’s shape and design to ensure it’s a good fit for your space.
As we continue to adopt more devices that can be wirelessly charged, we can expect more advances in this technology. From quicker charging speeds to the ability to charge devices from a distance, the future of wireless charging holds nothing but potential.